Ballot box, late 19th century

Political manipulation and election fraud was often compared to a well-oiled machine. Reformers determined to fight political machines with ballot reform and voting machines. The addition of an internal cylinder “roller” to this late nineteenth century ballot box ensured that once a ballot was rolled into the box it could not be tampered with nor seen, two security features missing from previous open-slotted boxes. This box was probably used in New England.